Remodelled Melbourne storm ahead

Some faces have changed but Melbourne showed they are still the toughest NRL team to beat with a 25-10 win over a gallant Panthers side at Penrith yesterday.

After their two premierships were stripped from them following salary cap breaches last year, the Storm were forced to offload a host of stars such as
Greg Inglis
and Dallas Johnson.

But the new names – five-eighth Gareth Widdop, prop Jesse Bromwich and backrower Kevin Proctor – were all outstanding and will ensure Craig Bellamy’s 2011 vintage are one of the sides to watch.

England international Widdop set up the opening try in the 10th minute, hauling in a Bromwich offload and racing 50 metres before handing off for Cooper Cronk to touch down under the posts.

The Panthers, who have struggled at home this season, losing three of their four games at Centrebet Stadium, enjoyed plenty of possession, but were unable to breach a well-drilled Storm defence.

A moment of magic from Sandor Earl did have the home crowd of 11,137 on their feet when he ran 98 metres to score after soaring high to grab a Widdop bomb just in front of his own tryline. The Storm had the final say of the opening half when
Cameron Smith
booted over a penalty goal to open up an 8-6 lead.

Matt Elliot started the second period well and Michael Gordon made some inroads from fullback.

But while the home side were camped on the Storm tryline, it was the visitors who extended their lead in the 52nd minute after the Panthers coughed up the ball.

Related Quotes

Company Profile

Widdop broke free again, handed off to
Billy Slater
who outpaced the Panthers’ defence to score his 116th try in Storm colours, Cronk then increasing the lead with a field goal.

Huge hits from
Timana Tahu
on Storm prop Bryan Norrie and Todd Lowrie on David Simmons lifted the crowd. But Melbourne sealed the win when winger Matt Duffie darted over in the corner following a mistake from Earl.

Bryan Norrie ran in a fourth try for Bellamy’s side before Tahu scored his first for the Panthers in the dying minutes, giving his team a deserved consolation.